Search

BACKGROUND/AIM The inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and its receptor CXCR2 are key signalling pathway molecules in cancer development. We hypothesized that IL-8/CXCR2 signalling promotes tumour progression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined the relationship between IL-8/CXCR2 expression and clinicopathological factors by immunohistochemistry in samples from 63 patients with resectable ESCC. The effects of IL-8/CXCR2 signalling on cell proliferation and gene expression were examined in vitro and in vivo using ESCC cell lines. RESULTS Increased IL-8/CXCR2 signalling was associated with shorter overall survival (p

Background/aim Targeting of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is suggested to be beneficial for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with HER2 amplification. In this study, we evaluated the effects of combination chemotherapy with HER2-targeted drug trastuzumab in ESCC cells and examined the underlying mechanism contributing to these effects. Materials and methods HER2 expression was verified, and the efficacy of chemotherapy with and without trastuzumab was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results The combination of trastuzumab and a combined-modality therapy stimulated the PI3K/Akt pathway in ESCC cells overexpressing HER2. Trastuzumab treatment resulted in the intranuclear accumulation of FOXO3A in ESCC xenografts overexpressing HER2. The combination of trastuzumab and a combined-modality therapy enhanced antitumor effects in HER2-overexpressing ESCC xenografts. Conclusion FOXO3A plays an important role in mediating the effects of trastuzumab, and combination chemotherapy may be a promising treatment for patients with HER2-overexpressing ESCC.

We examined whether tumor growth is enhanced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and suppressed by a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat.C57BL/6 mice were divided in CLP/sivelestat, CLP alone, and control (simple laparotomy) groups. Murine CT26 colon carcinoma cells were injected subcutaneously into the back of each mouse and tumor growth and serum cytokine levels were assessed.Mice subjected to CLP alone exhibited enhanced tumor growth compared to controls with subcutaneously injected CT26 cells (0.64±0.24 g vs. 0.021±0.027 g, p0.001), while treatment with CLP/sivelestat produced smaller tumors than CLP alone (0.28±0.23 g vs. 0.64±0.24 g, p=0.006). Cytokine assays showed suppressed production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in the CLP/sivelestat group, and increased IL-6 and IL-10 in the CLP-alone group.Intra-abdominal inflammation induced by CLP enhances the growth of subcutaneously implanted tumors, while perioperative administration of sivelestat suppresses tumor growth by affecting systemic inflammation.

Triplet combination chemotherapy has the potential to improve the prognosis of patients with unresectable gastric cancer. We conducted a phase I trial of triplet combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (PCS) for unresectable gastric cancer.Patients with metastatic or incurable disease were enrolled. S-1 was administered on days 1-14. Paclitaxel and cisplatin were infused on days 1 and 15. The starting doses of paclitaxel and cisplatin were 100 and 20 mg/m(2), respectively. Dose levels of paclitaxel and cisplatin were escalated as follows: 120 and 20 mg/m(2), respectively (level 2); 120 and 30 mg/m(2), respectively (level 3). End-points: Dose-limiting toxicities included grade 3 nausea, vomiting, and general fatigue, and grade 4 febrile neutropenia. The maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose were established at level 3 and level 2, respectively.Although further clinical trials are recommended to more thoroughly evaluate safety and efficacy, PCS appears to be an excellent candidate for a standard treatment strategy for unresectable gastric cancer.

The prognosis for advanced gastric cancer is poor, with surgery as the only treatment for resectable advanced gastric cancer. Therefore, treatment options that might improve the prognosis are needed. To that end, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin (CDDP) was investigated.The chemotherapy schedule included one cycle repeated after 6 weeks. S-1 was administered orally every day on days 1-21 and CDDP was infused on days 1, 8 and 15. Radiation therapy was started concurrently with chemotherapy and repeated daily on days 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, and 22-26.A total of 10 patients were recruited. The first four patients were entered into level 1 (CDDP, 20 mg/m²). The next six patients were entered into level 0 (15 mg/m²), because of dose-limiting toxicity (delaying the second course of chemotherapy in two patients) that had been observed at level 1. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of CDDP was 20 mg/m². Seven patients underwent surgery and all had an R0 (no residual tumor) resection without surgical complications.Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 and CDDP may cause surgery to be delayed, but shows promise for resectable advanced gastric cancer.

The development of a specific antibody for cancer therapy could enable a potent strategy for overcoming cancer. As ideal immunotherapy, a human monoclonal antibody (HuMoAb) might have a useful antitumor effect without any lethal toxicities. Thirty-six unique clones producing HuMoAbs were successfully developed using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes collected from 28 patients with several malignant solid tumors. The 36 tumor-specific immunoglobins were found among 9,450 clones after 43 fusions by the conventional hybridoma method. Among these 36 HuMoAbs, 9 had a remarkable tumor-specific reaction and no reaction with normal tissues, as determined with quantum dots-streptavidin and a fluorescence microscope. The inhibition of cell proliferation by the HuMoAbs was evaluated with the MTT assay. Over 40% cell growth inhibition was confirmed with 4 of the 36 HuMoAbs. Two of the antibodies had highly-specific reactivity to carcinomatous lesions with strong growth inhibition and up to 94.3% inhibition of the control growth. In conclusion, 36 clones with HuMoAbs that have specific reactions with cancer cells were successfully established. These HuMoAbs might be utilized as either anticancer or drug delivery agents.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated from surgically resected human samples using hybridoma techniques, and human monoclonal antibodies (HuMoAbs) were produced. Stable antibody-producing hybridoma cell lines were established and, on the basis of reactivity to human cancer cell lines, a clone of HuMoAb, named HoAKs-1, was selected. By confocal microscopy, we confirmed that HoAKs-1 showed specific and intense reactivity to the cell membrane of HLC-1 and PANC-1, wheareas the antibody did not show reactivity to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Using xenografts formed from epithelial cancer cell lines in nude mice, we also demonstrated a broad spectrum of reactivity of the antibody in 6 out of 14 xenografts. In addition, using surgically resected clinical specimens from two patients with lung cancer, we showed that HoAKs-1 had specific reactivity to cancerous lesions but not to normal sites. In an in vitro experiment, HoAKs-1 induced morphological changes with neurite-like cytoplasmic processes in MKN-45, HLC-1 and PANC-1, whereas no morphological alterations were observed in HUVECs. Growth inhibition rates by HoAKs-1 were 63% in HLC-1 and 47% in MKN-45, while no growth inhibition occurred in normal HUVECs. We confirmed that HoAKs-1 recognized a 55 kDa protein by determining the molecular weight of the HoAKs-1 reacting protein. In conclusion, we successfully produced a novel HuMoAb, HoAKs-1, which reacted specifically to cancer cells and inhibited cell growth with morphological changes. HoAKs-1 may have the potential to be utilized as an anticancer agent, without causing any immunological reaction in humans.